Xi Jinping Warns Trump on Taiwan Issue Amid U.S.-China Talks

Xi Jinping, the President of China, directly warned U.S. President Donald Trump that the Taiwan issue could lead to a U.S.-China conflict. While tariffs and trade were the main agenda items for their summit, China emphasized that the Taiwan issue is a core matter it cannot compromise on.

According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi stated, "The Taiwan issue is the most important issue in U.S.-China relations."

He added, "If handled well, the relationship between the two countries can maintain overall stability, but if mishandled, the two countries could clash or even come into conflict, pushing U.S.-China relations into a very dangerous situation."

Xi also strongly addressed the issue of Taiwan independence, asserting, "'Taiwan independence' and 'peace in the Taiwan Strait' cannot coexist like water and fire," and emphasized that maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is in the common interest of both nations.

China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has not renounced the goal of reunification. In contrast, Taiwan is a democratic self-governing region that has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party.

Xi's remarks are seen as a significant escalation from China's previous stance on Taiwan. While China has long defined the Taiwan issue as its most vital interest, it is unusual for Xi to mention the possibility of 'conflict' directly in front of Trump. This is interpreted as a message aimed at preemptively countering U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

Before his visit to China, Trump indicated that he would discuss U.S. arms sales to Taiwan during the summit. According to CNN, the Trump administration has been considering a weapons sale package to Taiwan worth approximately $14 billion, but no official announcement or congressional notification has been made yet. China has consistently opposed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

The U.S. policy toward Taiwan is complex. While the U.S. does not maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it continues to engage with the island. Additionally, the Taiwan Relations Act provides a legal basis for supplying arms to Taiwan to defend itself.

However, it remains unclear whether the U.S. would militarily intervene if China were to attack Taiwan. CNN reported that concerns have grown about potential disruptions to arms sales following Trump's announcement of discussions with Xi regarding the Taiwan issue.

Taiwan is also a crucial region for the semiconductor supply chain. The national security strategy released by the Trump administration last year highlighted Taiwan's role in semiconductor production and its military and economic significance. However, the language regarding Taiwan's defense was not clear, leading experts to assess that the Trump administration's Taiwan policy lacks clarity.

Trump's response has not yet been specifically disclosed. Early in the meeting, he referred to Xi as a 'great leader' and emphasized the potential for improving bilateral relations. While Xi acknowledged the need for cooperation, he made it clear that he would not back down on the Taiwan issue.



* This article has been translated by AI.

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